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1.25.2012

It actually may not have been very long, but it feels like forever. And I may or may not be blogging as frequently, for a bit. My husband and I are going through a rough spot, more or less. I've had overwhelming support from friends, and it's definitely helped get me through the weekend, but naturally my regular blogging schedule has suffered. I have been, in the meantime, painting like a madwoman and gathering up some art to sell. My Etsy shop now has way more art in it, and that makes me happy.

I am also realizing that since I want 2012 to be such a positive year, positive changes are in order, and most of that includes mindset. (It's very hard to be positive with marriage problems, by the way) but again thanks to support I've gotten and a general peaceful feeling, I'd say all things considered I'm doing decently well. I've started yoga, I've already spoken about another possible Sweden trip with several Swedish friends, I am planning a well-needed road trip for this weekend, and there are other things to keep me occupied.

I'm really thinking about having a weekly art feature. Art is a very important part of my life (one of the main parts of my life, honestly) but I don't know what I should call it, or what day to have it, or anything like that. Guess I'll have to think about it more when I have less to do (Valentine's making, road trip planning, and so on) but for now, I wanted to share a few random images while I update my blog design and try to organize all the stuff awaiting my organization. Haha.

1.21.2012

This picture of Elvis found on Tumblr. I just wanted to share him with you while I go through a list of what's up in my world this weekend.

-I've succummed to life as a vampire. I have tried, unsuccessfully, to adjust my sleeping schedule. I've taken enough melatonin and sleep aides to kill a fat horse, I've tried oversleeping to get back on cycle. Nothing. Nothing works. I feel like a prisoner of the night (I usually wake up around 5 or 6 pm and stay up until 8 or 9 in the morning...) and my friend Amanda who is nocturnal is helping me cope and deal with this.

-I also tried yoga for the first time tonight. I couldn't find any good videos on Comcast Demand that were perfect for TOTAL noobs like myself, but I did find a pretty cool ten minute pilates workout I'll probably play every day(read-night) to help me get in shape. I will continue my hunt for good yoga dvds, and my hunt for a good yoga studio in Salt Lake City has pretty much reached a dead end. They're all crappy, but I may try FlowYoga anyway. We'll see.

-I talked to Richard and now he, his fiancee (ugh) and me are going to have lunch together somewhere next week. I am doing this for Richard, not for me. Definitely not for her. If anything she'll probably feel even more threatened by me after this lunch, but I can't help that. There will never be peace between any of his women and me. It's just a law. He knows this by now, I think.

-I have plans to see Jorge Saturday (tonight) and Nariman Sunday. Look at me, being more social this weekend than I was all YEAR in 2011!!

-I am also participating in a giveaway--my very first!! I'll be making a painting for my friend Nora over at Two Is Better Than One.

-I'm ALSO participating in a Valentine's Day swap, and I am tickled to death to send someone (other than obvious husband) a package for this special day.

-Ira, a friend of mine, has requested a painting of Goblin Valley. This will be my first time painting a Utah-specific landscape and I could honestly cry with how much it means to me. I love Utah so, so so much.

-Amanda, the vampire friend, has also requested a painting....though she didn't specify what. Both she and Nate are next on my 'to pester' list. I am bad at coming up with random things to paint for people. I prefer direction.

-Jessica Ahlquist is a 16 year old atheist who recently stood up to her school for hanging an unconstitutional banner (displaying a specific Christian prayer) in the public building. She sued the school and the judge ruled in her favor, and in return this brave girl got death threats from the kind Christian community. She now has to go to school with a police escort. You can read all about the case and what these religious bigots are saying on this website which highlights the whole fiasco.

The update I'd like to give on this issue is that recently, a secular organization ordered flowers delivered to young Ahlquist as encouragement and thanks for her efforts. Local flower companies, one after the other, refused the order, saying they wouldn't deliver flowers to "that person." Then, someone with the right idea stepped up. Glimpse of Gaia offered to send the flowers. Their Facebook page has literally gone viral and a flood of 'thank you's' from the decency-loving community shows that the internet still has room to spread the good message; i.e., DON'T BE AN ASSHOLE!!!

Here is the note they gave with the order:

"Glimpse of Gaia fully supports our First Amendment and will not be bullied by those who do not. Here's to you, Jessica Ahlquist!"

Well, that's all for the updates in my life, folks. I'll leave you with another picture.

My name's Alex. I'm an EMT in beautiful Utah. I'm also a dual Swedish resident. I have a passion for writing, painting, and speaking my mind. I have PTSD. I play a lot of video games. This is my place for a little bit of everything that I love.